SPI Celebrates Global Youth Service Day in Brattleboro
Friday, May 9, 2008
In recognition of Global Youth Service Day, an annual event which celebrates the contributions of youth to their communities through volunteer service, the Service Politics Institute joined Westgate Teens and the Flat Street Boys & Girls Club to get their Kids Cafe in running order and to prepare a healthy meal for the surrounding community. On Saturday, April 26th over 20 community volunteers, including Vermont State Senator Jeanette White and State Representatives Virginia Milkey and Sarah Edwards, gathered together to draw awareness around policy relating to healthy eating in schools and afterschool programs.
The policy discussion began with Beth Baldwin, the representative speaking behalf of the Boys and Girls Club of Brattleboro. She discussed the operations of the organization along with the challenges they face, primarily attributed to funding. Due to a recent grant, however, the facilities now include a brand new Kids Cafe. Kids Cafes are one of the nation's largest meal service programs with a primary goal of providing free, prepared, nutritious food and nutrition education to children. In Vermont, community sites such as teen centers, Boys and Girls Clubs, and family and youth organizations, operate Kids Cafes.
Windham County State Senator Jeanette White and State Representative Virginia Milkey began the policy discussion with an overview of the operations of the Vermont State legislature. They pointed out unique attributes to the state government, particularly the citizen based legislature and the Right to Serve law. According to Representative Milkey, $24 million has been cut by appropriations this year and some government programs have seen their budgets drastically decreased. "Thankfully, additional funding has been added to programs like the Free Breakfast Program," said Senator White.
Encouraging healthy eating is also being addressed on a federal level. The United States Department of Agriculture now requires that an overall school wellness policy accompany all federally funded lunch programs. The mandate is ambitious, but funding still continues to be an issue. The discussion group agreed that encouraging healthy lifestyles in youth should be addressed on a local, community level. Discussion topics ranged from obesity, to eating disorders, to food choice, to local versus organic food.
To find out more about healthy eating, please visit the Vermont Department of Health, Fit and Healthy Vermonters website at http://healthvermont.gov/fitandhealth.aspx.
The policy discussion began with Beth Baldwin, the representative speaking behalf of the Boys and Girls Club of Brattleboro. She discussed the operations of the organization along with the challenges they face, primarily attributed to funding. Due to a recent grant, however, the facilities now include a brand new Kids Cafe. Kids Cafes are one of the nation's largest meal service programs with a primary goal of providing free, prepared, nutritious food and nutrition education to children. In Vermont, community sites such as teen centers, Boys and Girls Clubs, and family and youth organizations, operate Kids Cafes.
Windham County State Senator Jeanette White and State Representative Virginia Milkey began the policy discussion with an overview of the operations of the Vermont State legislature. They pointed out unique attributes to the state government, particularly the citizen based legislature and the Right to Serve law. According to Representative Milkey, $24 million has been cut by appropriations this year and some government programs have seen their budgets drastically decreased. "Thankfully, additional funding has been added to programs like the Free Breakfast Program," said Senator White.
Encouraging healthy eating is also being addressed on a federal level. The United States Department of Agriculture now requires that an overall school wellness policy accompany all federally funded lunch programs. The mandate is ambitious, but funding still continues to be an issue. The discussion group agreed that encouraging healthy lifestyles in youth should be addressed on a local, community level. Discussion topics ranged from obesity, to eating disorders, to food choice, to local versus organic food.
To find out more about healthy eating, please visit the Vermont Department of Health, Fit and Healthy Vermonters website at http://healthvermont.gov/fitandhealth.aspx.
